After the Throne
Matthew Needham, a versatile actor, discusses his intriguing journey from overcoming childhood shyness to becoming a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. In this interview with Liam Saint-Pierre, Needham delves into his experiences, including landing the role of Larys Strong in House of the Dragon, working with Joaquin Phoenix, and his approach to acting.
Interview Liam Saint- Pierre Photography JC Verona Styling Kate Barbour Grooming Nohelia Reyes Styling Assistant Lauryn Jane Doherty Publicist Clair Dobbs
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Can you share with us your journey to becoming an actor? What initially drew you to the craft?
I was shy and underconfident as a child, so I think it was a way of putting myself out into the world while being protected. It's the strange dichotomy of acting, isn’t it? That it’s smoke and mirrors and incredibly revealing at the same time. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, I think it was the only way I was really able to express myself. I don’t think it’s particularly healthy to treat acting as therapy, but there was and is something undoubtedly cathartic about it for me.
How did you land the role of Larys Strong in House of the Dragon, and what was your reaction when you found out you'd be part of such a major production?
It was deepest darkest Covid and I was asked to do a self-tape for a Game of Thrones prequel. It originally was for a different part and then they asked if I’d be interested in reading for Larys .I credit Kate Rhode James with everything. She was so supportive and called me before I taped and talked me through the character and basically assuaged all doubts and made it incredibly clear and simple. I remember finding out I got it. I don’t remember having a come to Jesus moment but I was aware that there was a possibility that life could be different, but then again there was a chance the show could have come and gone. Shows do. I try not to think too far ahead about things like that because you really don’t know what’s in store for you.
With House of the Dragon season 2 on the horizon, can you give us a glimpse into how your character, Larys Strong, evolves and what fans can expect?
This season you see Larys branch out and play the game in real time. The world is about to fall apart and nobody knows which way the pieces are going to fall, so Larys is going to have to work a lot harder if he wants to keep climbing that ladder.
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How does preparing for a role in a high-fantasy series like House of the Dragon differ from preparing for a historical epic like Napoleon?
It doesn’t really. Fantasy is still reality to those characters. If they are a real person then of course there’s a lot of research you can do and there are lots of interesting, informative things you can learn and acquire, but to be honest there wasn’t the time with Napoleon. I was meant to play a different character for one scene and I got a call when I was on holiday pre-production saying that scene had been cut, so my part no longer existed, but would I be interested in playing Napoleon’s brother Lucien. I did some rudimentary research on the man, but I was halfway up a mountain in Mexico and there’s only so much scouring of the internet you're actually able to do.
Speaking of Napoleon, what was it like working alongside Joaquin Phoenix? Can you share any memorable moments from that experience?
I loved him, actually. He was fun. I was originally only going to be on it for two or three days, but I kept being added to other scenes and I found out later through the casting director that Joaquin kept asking for me to be put in them. He was a nice man. My favourite Joaquin memory was probably when I was waiting to shoot a scene and he came up and told me the scene was scrapped and it was now just going to be me and him talking. It's an odd feeling to be about to film a scene with Ridley Scott and having absolutely no idea what you're going to say or do, but Joaquin is so wonderful you just kind of go with it. I think we ended up just laughing a lot and Ridley had to tell us off. With Joaquin and Ridley, it was very much about capturing moments. No rehearsal. See what happens. I really enjoyed that way of working. It's the closest to theatre I’ve experienced on a set.
When you approach a character, do you have a specific process or method that you follow? How do you get into the mindset of your characters?
No, not really. Each character is starting from zero. I just try to get out of the way. I think I either hear a voice when I read it or I don’t, and I try to trust that initial voice if it’s clear and interesting enough and follow it to see where it takes me, rather than where I take it, if that makes sense?
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“I don’t think it’s particularly healthy to treat acting as therapy.”
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Do you have a preference between working in theatre versus film and television? What are the unique challenges and rewards of each medium for you?
Theatre. Everything has its challenges, though. I think the challenges in film and tv are actually knottier than theatre. The out of sequence-ness of it all. Having to make the unfamiliar seem familiar in a short space of time. It's a trick of the mind, but then most things are.
How do you handle the intense physical and emotional demands of your roles? Do you have any techniques for decompressing after a particularly challenging scene or performance?
No, but I’m obsessive, I think. I don’t particularly want to decompress.
In House of the Dragon, you work with some incredibly talented actors and directors. How do you find the experience of collaborating on set, and do you have any standout moments?
It’s a rogues' gallery of talented fuckers isn’t it?! I mean, I love them all. I was a fan of Rhys and Paddy before the show. Emma I’d known a little bit and was a fan. I've always admired Matt and his choices, which are always eclectic and interesting. Fabien, you can’t help but fall a bit in love with. But I worked with Tom Glynn Carney a lot this season and I think he’s extraordinary. I am in awe of some of the things I’ve seen him do, and his inventiveness and bravery in scenes. I find him utterly electric Sometimes you can talk a thing to death. If you are with someone as good as Tom, the most informative thing is to just let him go because I think his body instinctively knows what the scene needs.
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“I either hear a voice when I read it or I don’t, and I try to trust that initial voice.”
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How important is it for you to find a balance between staying true to the source material and bringing your own interpretation to your character in House of the Dragon?
That’s an interesting question, and a tricky one to answer because Larys in the books is a big question mark. The challenge was to flesh him out without stripping him of his question-mark-ed-ness. There’s still a deeper layer of mystery to him that I’m interested to explore.
Your role in season 2 of House of the Dragon becomes a lot bigger. How did you prepare for this increased screen time and the deeper dive into your character's storyline?
We are lucky to have exceptional writers. I was able to talk with Ryan Condal, David Hancock and Sara Hess ahead of time and really understand the shape of the season. They are the most brilliant people and you know people are talented when they aren’t afraid to ask you what you think. We’re all in very safe hands with them.
Looking back on your career so far, what has been the most rewarding project or role for you, and why?
I did a play called The Knight Of The Burning Pestle at The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which is a beautiful candlelit theatre in London. It was a three-hour Jacobean comedy, and like all three-hour Jacobean comedies there were nights it didn’t work, but on the nights it did and the audience gave themselves over to it, I’ve never experienced a collective feeling of joy like it. The theatre seemed to vibrate. Magic.
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“I think the challenges in film and tv are actually knottier than theatre.”
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What advice would you give to aspiring actors who are looking to break into the industry?
With young actors I try to just be encouraging because they need it. It’s a brutal industry at any stage you’re at. If I had to give a blanket piece of advice, I’d say aim for true rather than aiming for natural.
Lastly, what are you most excited for audiences to see in the upcoming season of House of the Dragon?
All of it, really. I hope it blows their mind and breaks their hearts.
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About Matthew
Matthew Needham (born 13 April 1984) is a British actor. He has worked on stage and screen, appearing in television series such as Casualty, Endeavour, and Sanditon. For his performance in the play Britannicus, he was nominated for the 2011 Ian Charleson Award.
As of 2022, Needham portrays Larys Strong in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, his performance in the series has received critical acclaim. He has also appeared in Napoleon (2023).
Interview Liam Saint- Pierre
Photography JC Verona
Styling Kate Barbour
Grooming Nohelia Reyes using 111Skin and Colour WOW
Styling Assistant Lauryn Jane Doherty
Publicist Clair Dobbs
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